"Uhm...Mamori- neechan..." Sena said cautiously as he walked behind Mamori. She, on the other hand, was busy scanning the shops around them, looking for something that would be interesting, for how many shops now...Sena couldn't count anymore.
"Just this last one, Sena." Mamori said as she entered a shop with teddies and balloons. That was what she said three shops ago.
"But, shouldn't you be staying home?" Sena said with worry, but still followed her inside. His arms were full of bags from different stores, and he is downright troubled that something bad might happen to her... and to her baby. She is pregnant, almost due but contentment hasn't settled on her and today, again she went around town looking for "baby stuff" for her little angel. She's been like this since she knew she was carrying "the next commander" as the team calls it.
Finally...
As they sat in a coffee shop, Sena let out a little sigh of relief. He placed the bags and boxes beside him and Mamori sat opposite him.
"Are you OK, Sena?" Mamori asked the former Notre Dame running back. "I'm so sorry I have to drag you all the way here."
"No, its nothing, really." Sena shook his head and the hands moved the same. "Actually..." He blushed a little and scratched the back of his head. "I wanted to do something for you. You've been protecting me and..."
Yes, Mamori remembered the days, the days when she used to protect little Sena from bullies. Even up to highschool. She had to join the American football club just to protect him from the evil one. But it was all meant to be. It was hard, but worth it. A lot has come, trials and hardships but they've all made it. They succeeded. Deimon Devil Bats is a name that would never be forgotten in the world of American Football.
Now Sena is a fine, young man. She didn't have to protect him anymore, though of course habits are always habits. When they were in college, they treat each other as enemies in the field but off-field, Mamori's motherly instincts would take over her and be the ol' mother hen that she is.
"…I'm so happy for you Mamori- neechan."
Mamori heard as she snapped out of her musings and gave out a smile. Everybody has been happy and excited about her having a child, but the most exciting part of it is that the child is also Hiruma Youichi's. Those that had expressed their congratulations wore really thrilled smiles, but then coming across their mind that the child inside her is also his they wondered if it would really be good to have someone that he can pass his genes on to.
"So, how about you and Suzuna-chan?" Mamori asked, placing her chin on her clasped hands.
He was choked.
One reason Mamori felt comfortable about Sena going to a different university than hers was because Suzuna was there.
"Going good I suppose." She smiled a Suzuna-ish smile. Mamori recalled how exciting a love of youth is, not that they're old, but being married is another story. She was teasing Sena a few years ago on how he would get a girlfriend, him being so timid and hesitant, but now he has one, the only one. And as how the statement "opposites attract" was true for her, so it was for him, too, for Suzuna is way below the timid ranking.
Sena blushed as he smiled back. He and Suzuna started going out when they were third year high school, and when Sena was in Notre Dame, she clung onto his promise to come back. Of course love and life is not always smooth but the two, now both having their own jobs, is "going good."
Time ticked and the hands moved. They sure had a nice chat of what they've been up to recently. Not that they've lost communication. They just enjoy spending time with one another, just like when they were younger.
"We should be going home now." Sena said after getting a glance of the wall clock near the cashier. And it was getting dark. He was worried what Hiruma might do to him if Mamori came home late. He seemed to be a little over protective these days and over protective is a word he'd never thought would describe the infamous Hiruma. Sena has a clear picture of what can happen and it might mean no more tomorrow for him.
"Don't worry. Youichi won't come home until later." Mamori assured him after sipping tea. "He has a game today." She explained, and took a bite on her creampuff.
That reminded him of his supposed to be schedule of activities for the day. He was supposed to watch the match today to see who his team would play against in the finals, but Mamori asked him to go with her. It's not like he can turn down an old friend's favour, but the former captain's order made it a double reason to miss the games and go with Mamori instead. Hiruma didn't want Mamori to go to his games recently. He said it's dangerous for her to come, especially with very excited, raging fans. Exits can be brutal. And he didn't want her to be going around alone either, most especially now that the child inside is almost ready to come out. The doctor had advised her not to move around too much but the very good hormones tells her to do just the opposite. And oh how hard it is for the husband to make a pregnant wife stay put.
They left the coffee shop and went for the nearest taxi rank, waiting for one. During this time of the day, taxis are in the busiest and catching one is not very easy. They stood there for some minutes, when suddenly Mamori felt pain. She knelt, her hands on her belly and based on how she looks and according to Sena's anatomy and physiology lesson from college, he knew this was it.
"Mamori-neechan!" He almost shouted and dropped all that was in his arms. He knelt beside her and tried to wipe off the sweat dripping on her forehead. "Are you... how do you...wait...I'll call an ambulance!" In his panic he barely made a sentence.
A/N: English is my second language so I'm not very good at it. I was amazed that this got good reviews! Thank you so much! I hope you'd also do the same for the coming chapters…
